A piece of seafloor that began sinking into Earth's mantle approximately 250 million years ago has been discovered, at least its fingerprints have. Scientists say they have found a "fossilised fingerprint" of the chunk of seafloor hiding under the Pacific Ocean.

A study has found that the fingerprint matches a slab of Earth's crust that started going down at the beginning of the age of dinosaurs (252 million to 66 million years ago).

It was once a part of the seafloor in the southeastern Pacific. Experts are hoping to solve the mystery of a strange gap in the lowermost sections of the mantle by learning more about the latest discovery.&nbsp;

The findings were published on Sep 27 in the journal Science Advances.

"It's giving us a glimpse into Earth's past that we've never had before," Jingchuan Wang, study lead author, a seismologist and postdoctoral associate at the University of Maryland, said in a statement.

The slab currently sits between the upper and lower mantle, in the mantle transition zone stretching between 410 to 660 kilometres deep beneath the Earth's surface. This zone expands and contracts owing to heat currents, researchers said in the statement.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/star-circling-two-other-stars-that-orbit-each-other-shatters-a-70-year-old-record-764421">Star circling two other stars that orbit each other shatters a 70-year-old record</a>

<h2>Exploration happened near Easter Island</h2>

The discovery was made when the researchers were exploring the mantle beneath the East Pacific Rise. This region is a mid-ocean ridge located 3,200 km off the coast of South America. &nbsp;

Seismic waves were used to examine the types of rock beneath the seafloor, after which a digital cross-section of Earth's crust and mantle was created. They noticed an unusually thick mantle transition zone beneath a portion of the East Pacific Rise around 350 km east of Easter Island. "This thickened area is like a fossilised fingerprint of an ancient piece of seafloor that subducted into the Earth," Wang said.

Subduction occurs after a collision between two tectonic plates, after which one dives beneath the other. The resulting material usually disintegrates in the mantle and turns into magma owing to high temperatures. However, the researchers say the newly discovered slab somehow escaped that fate.

"Usually, oceanic slabs of material are consumed by the Earth completely," Wang said.

A subducting plate would travel a lot faster through the mantle than what happened with this piece of slab, according to the statement. Wang said that this suggests the mantle transition zone can act as a viscous barrier and slow the movement of sinking material.

"This is just the beginning," Wang said. "We believe that there are many more ancient structures waiting to be discovered in Earth's deep interior."

A piece of seafloor that began sinking into Earth's mantle approximately 250 million years ago has been discovered, at least its fingerprints have. Scientists say they have found a "fossilised fingerprint" of the chunk of seafloor hiding under the Pacific Ocean.

A piece of seafloor that began sinking into Earth's mantle approximately 250 million years ago has been discovered, at least its fingerprints have. Scientists say they have found a "fossilised fingerprint" of the chunk of seafloor hiding under the Pacific Ocean. A study has found that the fingerprint matches a slab of Earth's crust that started going down at the beginning of the age of dinosaurs (252 million to 66 million years ago). It was once a part of the seafloor in the southeastern Pacific. Experts are hoping to solve the mystery of a strange gap in the lowermost sections of the mantle by learning more about the latest discovery. The findings were published on Sep 27 in the journal Science Advances. "It's giving us a glimpse into Earth's past that we've never had before," Jingchuan Wang, study lead author, a seismologist and postdoctoral associate at the University of Maryland, said in a statement. The slab currently sits between the upper and lower mantle, in the mantle transition zone stretching between 410 to 660 kilometres deep beneath the Earth's surface. This zone expands and contracts owing to heat currents, researchers said in the statement. Also Read: Star circling two other stars that orbit each other shatters a 70-year-old record Exploration happened near Easter Island The discovery was made when the researchers were exploring the mantle beneath the East Pacific Rise. This region is a mid-ocean ridge located 3,200 km off the coast of South America. Seismic waves were used to examine the types of rock beneath the seafloor, after which a digital cross-section of Earth's crust and mantle was created. They noticed an unusually thick mantle transition zone beneath a portion of the East Pacific Rise around 350 km east of Easter Island. "This thickened area is like a fossilised fingerprint of an ancient piece of seafloor that subducted into the Earth," Wang said. Subduction occurs after a collision between two tectonic plates, after which one dives beneath the other. The resulting material usually disintegrates in the mantle and turns into magma owing to high temperatures. However, the researchers say the newly discovered slab somehow escaped that fate. "Usually, oceanic slabs of material are consumed by the Earth completely," Wang said. A subducting plate would travel a lot faster through the mantle than what happened with this piece of slab, according to the statement. Wang said that this suggests the mantle transition zone can act as a viscous barrier and slow the movement of sinking material. "This is just the beginning," Wang said. "We believe that there are many more ancient structures waiting to be discovered in Earth's deep interior."

Chunk of seafloor lost during age of dinosaurs found hiding under Pacific

Earth's core is a gigantic ball of liquid metal and is located nearly 2,890 kilometres below us. Scientists have made a fascinating discovery in the outer core where they say a ring-like structure, similar to a doughnut is present. Research published in the journal Science Advances says that this ring is parallel to the equator.

Study co-author and Australian National University geophysicist, Prof Hrvoje Tkalčić says that it is not possible to reach the planet's core using existing technology. So they relied on seismic waves and looked at the forms generated by large earthquakes as they travelled through the Earth.

They compared the data generated by seismic detectors closer to the poles with results from nearer the Equator. They noticed that the waves slowed down near the ceiling, before the mantle. &nbsp;

“By understanding the geometry of the paths of the waves and how they traverse the outer core’s volume, we reconstructed their travel times through the Earth,” Tkalčić said.

“We realised that seismic waves slow down in the zone that mathematically is called a torus. To most people this looked like a doughnut," he said.

"Overall, the waves detected closer to the poles were travelling faster than those near the Equator."

<h2>Earth's core and magnetic field</h2>

He stressed that it was important to study the outer core since it is responsible for the magnetic field which protect Earth from the constant bombardment of charged particles from the sun.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/black-holes-are-creating-an-optical-illusion-in-the-early-universe-heres-how-754628">Black holes are creating an optical illusion in the early universe. Here's how</a>

The molten iron and nickel in the core has currents moving that act like a “giant dynamo” which generated and sustains the magnetic field. Tkalčić said the presence of this dynamo has confused scientists for years because other planets do not have it.&nbsp;

Earth's core is slightly larger than Mars. “We can think of it as a planet within our own planet,” Tkalčić said.

While the exact size of this structure is not known, it likely stretches a few hundred kilometres.

“We don’t know the exact thickness of the doughnut, but we inferred that it reaches a few hundred kilometres beneath the core-mantle boundary.”&nbsp;

It consists of lighter chemical elements such as silicon, sulphur, oxygen, hydrogen or carbon. 
&nbsp;

Earth's core is a gigantic ball of liquid metal and is located nearly 2,890 kilometres below us. Scientists have made a fascinating discovery in the outer core where they say a ring-like structure, similar to a doughnut is present.

Earth's core is a gigantic ball of liquid metal and is located nearly 2,890 kilometres below us. Scientists have made a fascinating discovery in the outer core where they say a ring-like structure, similar to a doughnut is present. Research published in the journal Science Advances says that this ring is parallel to the equator. Study co-author and Australian National University geophysicist, Prof Hrvoje Tkalčić says that it is not possible to reach the planet's core using existing technology. So they relied on seismic waves and looked at the forms generated by large earthquakes as they travelled through the Earth. They compared the data generated by seismic detectors closer to the poles with results from nearer the Equator. They noticed that the waves slowed down near the ceiling, before the mantle. “By understanding the geometry of the paths of the waves and how they traverse the outer core’s volume, we reconstructed their travel times through the Earth,” Tkalčić said. “We realised that seismic waves slow down in the zone that mathematically is called a torus. To most people this looked like a doughnut," he said. "Overall, the waves detected closer to the poles were travelling faster than those near the Equator." Earth's core and magnetic field He stressed that it was important to study the outer core since it is responsible for the magnetic field which protect Earth from the constant bombardment of charged particles from the sun. Also Read: Black holes are creating an optical illusion in the early universe. Here's how The molten iron and nickel in the core has currents moving that act like a “giant dynamo” which generated and sustains the magnetic field. Tkalčić said the presence of this dynamo has confused scientists for years because other planets do not have it. Earth's core is slightly larger than Mars. “We can think of it as a planet within our own planet,” Tkalčić said. While the exact size of this structure is not known, it likely stretches a few hundred kilometres. “We don’t know the exact thickness of the doughnut, but we inferred that it reaches a few hundred kilometres beneath the core-mantle boundary.” It consists of lighter chemical elements such as silicon, sulphur, oxygen, hydrogen or carbon.

A mysterious 'doughnut' is sitting in molten metal inside Earth's core

Scientists have been investigating the core of the Earth, which has become home to some of the most “extreme features" of a planet hidden deep in underground.

Now new research has found that the mysterious zones, which are present in the deep mantle underneath some places where earthquake waves have slowly moved, may actually have been spread across the entire planet.

The existence of these zones in the Earth's lower mantle, which are ultra-low velocity zones&nbsp;(ULVZs), was already known to scientists. However, unlike the new idea that these zones are widespread, these zones were earlier said to be present in the regions where hot rock moves and creates volcanic island chains like Hawaii.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-hit-by-hundreds-of-meteorites-originating-from-only-5-craters-on-mars-752869">Hundreds of meteorites originating from only 5 craters on Mars hit Earth</a>

The experts have now discovered that these mysterious black hole zones can slow down seismic waves by around 50 per cent, however, scientists are unaware of what they are made of or what their exact role is in the process.

"Here's one of the most extreme features that we see anywhere inside the planet," said geophysicist Michael Thorne, of the University of Utah, while speaking to Live Science.

"And we don't know what they are, where they're coming from, what they're made of, [or] what role they play inside the Earth," he added.

<h2>Did meteors form these mysterious zones in Earth's mantle?</h2>

According to some researchers, the ULVZs may have been the remains of the giant impacts created by meteors which relentlessly bombarded the Earth.&nbsp;

However, as per Thorne, if they are ubiquitous, then that means such zones are getting generated actively even today.

He said that there are chances of volcanic rock basalt - which gets formed at mid-ocean ridges - making these wave-sucking structures.&nbsp;

Once this basalt enters into the mantle through subduction, it melts quickly and can form pockets which have slow seismic waves.

Watch:&nbsp;Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-slows-down-by-133-milliseconds-741345/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Thorne and his team analysed the waves that&nbsp;were created by large, powerful earthquakes, called PKP waves.

Speaking to Live Science, Thorne said that his findings revealed something was slowing the earthquake waves dramatically from scattering their energy.

It was the valleys and ridges which were present along the core-mantle boundary which were slowing the earthquake waves, he said.

Thorne said that signatures of ULVZs were detected across the planet in North America, North Africa, East Asia, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Northwest, and the western Pacific.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have been investigating the core of the Earth, which has become home to some of the most “extreme features" of a planet hidden deep in underground. Now new research has found that the mysterious zones, which are present in the deep mantle underneath some places where earthquake waves have slowly moved, may actually have been spread across the entire planet.

Scientists have been investigating the core of the Earth, which has become home to some of the most “extreme features" of a planet hidden deep in underground. Now new research has found that the mysterious zones, which are present in the deep mantle underneath some places where earthquake waves have slowly moved, may actually have been spread across the entire planet. The existence of these zones in the Earth's lower mantle, which are ultra-low velocity zones (ULVZs), was already known to scientists. However, unlike the new idea that these zones are widespread, these zones were earlier said to be present in the regions where hot rock moves and creates volcanic island chains like Hawaii. Also Read: Hundreds of meteorites originating from only 5 craters on Mars hit Earth The experts have now discovered that these mysterious black hole zones can slow down seismic waves by around 50 per cent, however, scientists are unaware of what they are made of or what their exact role is in the process. "Here's one of the most extreme features that we see anywhere inside the planet," said geophysicist Michael Thorne, of the University of Utah, while speaking to Live Science. "And we don't know what they are, where they're coming from, what they're made of, [or] what role they play inside the Earth," he added. Did meteors form these mysterious zones in Earth's mantle? According to some researchers, the ULVZs may have been the remains of the giant impacts created by meteors which relentlessly bombarded the Earth. However, as per Thorne, if they are ubiquitous, then that means such zones are getting generated actively even today. He said that there are chances of volcanic rock basalt - which gets formed at mid-ocean ridges - making these wave-sucking structures. Once this basalt enters into the mantle through subduction, it melts quickly and can form pockets which have slow seismic waves. Watch: Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds Thorne and his team analysed the waves that were created by large, powerful earthquakes, called PKP waves. Speaking to Live Science, Thorne said that his findings revealed something was slowing the earthquake waves dramatically from scattering their energy. It was the valleys and ridges which were present along the core-mantle boundary which were slowing the earthquake waves, he said. Thorne said that signatures of ULVZs were detected across the planet in North America, North Africa, East Asia, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Northwest, and the western Pacific. (With inputs from agencies)

Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are

The landlocked country of Mongolia in East Asia was once an ocean which was created by an upwelling of boiling rock from the Earth's crust more than 400 million years ago.&nbsp;

The ocean, after its creation by tearing of Earth's crust, had survived for 115 million years.&nbsp;

This ocean's geological history is likely to help researchers understand Wilson cycles and the process through which supercontinents break apart and eventually, join again.&nbsp;

A geoscientist at the National Spanish Research Council in Madrid and study co-author&nbsp; Daniel Pastor-Galan said that these are slow and broad-scale processes which move ahead by less than an inch every year.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/mongolian-climber-found-dead-on-mount-everest-rescue-operations-underway-for-another-722607">Mongolian climber found dead on Mount Everest, rescue operations underway for another</a>

"It's telling us about processes in the earth that are not very easy to understand and that are also not very easy to see," said Pastor-Galan, while speaking to Live Science.

Till now the breakup of the last supercontinent Pangea - which happened 250 million years ago - has been accurately reconstructed by the geoscientists.

But before that, it was difficult to create an exact model of how the interaction between the mantle and the crust happened.

<h2>Volcanic rocks from the Devonian period found in Mongolia</h2>

The researchers, in the new study, were left intrigued by volcanic rocks in northwestern Mongolia, which belonged to the Devonian period (419 million to 359 million years ago).&nbsp;

The Devonian period refers to the "Age of the Fishes" when the oceans were dominated by the fish and plants started to spread on the land.

In that period, two major continents - Laurentia and Gondwana - existed along with a long stretch of microcontinents which eventually became Asia.&nbsp;

In a slow process, the microcontinents merged in a process known as accretion.

During the fieldwork in northwest Mongolia, the researchers discovered the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean which had opened up in the region nearly 410 million and 415 million years ago.

Watch:&nbsp;Mongolia's ruling party wins general elections

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mongolias-ruling-party-wins-general-elections-736374/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The volcanic rocks' chemistry revealed that there was a mantle plume present, which is a stream of hot and buoyant mantle rock.

"Mantle plumes are usually involved in the first stage of the Wilson cycle: the breakup of continents and opening of the ocean, such as the Atlantic Ocean," said study lead author&nbsp;Mingshuai Zhu, who is a professor of geology and geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, while speaking to Live Science.&nbsp;

The ocean had opened in the same spot where Mongolia exists which is a common way ocean life-cycles work, said Pastor-Galan.

"A good thing is that a hotspot is relatively stable so they keep on, for many millions of years, in the same place," said Pastor-Galan.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The landlocked country of Mongolia in East Asia was once an ocean which was created by an upwelling of boiling rock from the Earth's crust more than 400 million years ago.

The landlocked country of Mongolia in East Asia was once an ocean which was created by an upwelling of boiling rock from the Earth's crust more than 400 million years ago. The ocean, after its creation by tearing of Earth's crust, had survived for 115 million years. This ocean's geological history is likely to help researchers understand Wilson cycles and the process through which supercontinents break apart and eventually, join again. A geoscientist at the National Spanish Research Council in Madrid and study co-author Daniel Pastor-Galan said that these are slow and broad-scale processes which move ahead by less than an inch every year. Also Read: Mongolian climber found dead on Mount Everest, rescue operations underway for another "It's telling us about processes in the earth that are not very easy to understand and that are also not very easy to see," said Pastor-Galan, while speaking to Live Science. Till now the breakup of the last supercontinent Pangea - which happened 250 million years ago - has been accurately reconstructed by the geoscientists. But before that, it was difficult to create an exact model of how the interaction between the mantle and the crust happened. Volcanic rocks from the Devonian period found in Mongolia The researchers, in the new study, were left intrigued by volcanic rocks in northwestern Mongolia, which belonged to the Devonian period (419 million to 359 million years ago). The Devonian period refers to the "Age of the Fishes" when the oceans were dominated by the fish and plants started to spread on the land. In that period, two major continents - Laurentia and Gondwana - existed along with a long stretch of microcontinents which eventually became Asia. In a slow process, the microcontinents merged in a process known as accretion. During the fieldwork in northwest Mongolia, the researchers discovered the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean which had opened up in the region nearly 410 million and 415 million years ago. Watch: Mongolia's ruling party wins general elections The volcanic rocks' chemistry revealed that there was a mantle plume present, which is a stream of hot and buoyant mantle rock. "Mantle plumes are usually involved in the first stage of the Wilson cycle: the breakup of continents and opening of the ocean, such as the Atlantic Ocean," said study lead author Mingshuai Zhu, who is a professor of geology and geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, while speaking to Live Science. The ocean had opened in the same spot where Mongolia exists which is a common way ocean life-cycles work, said Pastor-Galan. "A good thing is that a hotspot is relatively stable so they keep on, for many millions of years, in the same place," said Pastor-Galan. (With inputs from agencies)

Landlocked country of Mongolia was an ocean for 115 million years after tearing off Earth's mantle

Chinese scientists have found that Earth's inner core wobbles around its rotational axis every 8.5 years. According to a study published in Nature Communications journal, a tiny misalignment between the inner core and the Earth's mantle, the layer below the crust, causes this movement.

Chinese scientists have found that Earth's inner core wobbles around its rotational axis every 8.5 years. According to a study published in Nature Communications journal, a tiny misalignment between the inner core and the Earth's mantle, the layer below the crust, causes this movement. Earth's core has two parts: a swirling liquid outer boundary and an almost solid inner layer. This region, starting 2,896 kilometres beneath the surface, is accountable for numerous geophysical dynamics of our planet, including the length of each day and Earth's magnetic field that protects humans from the Sun's harmful rays. The study noted that this shift can eventually alter the motion or shape of the liquid core, causing a change in the Earth's magnetic field. In 2019, Hao Ding of Wuhan University and his team of geophysical researchers examined the motion of Earth's rotational axis relative to its crust, also called polar rotation. They noticed a subtle deviation in polar rotation, which occurs every 8.5 years, leading to the discovery of "inner core wobble." To simplify things, the researchers have described the shift in Earth's inner core as similar to the wobble of a spinning top. ALSO READ | Spectacular! Japan's XRISM satellite provides first glimpse into X-ray cosmos Furthermore, Ding and his co-authors verified this cycle by measuring slight shifts in day length worldwide, controlled by the periodic movement of the Earth's rotational axis. They compared it to the deviations in polar motion. The researchers concluded that a tilt of 0.17 degrees between Earth's inner core and mantle causes this wobble. It rules out the traditional Earth rotation theory that "assumes that the rotation axis of the Earth's inner core and the rotation axis of the mantle coincide," Ding told Live Science. The research also suggests that the tilt implies that the inner core northern hemisphere might be a little denser than the rest of the layers, as there is a contrast between Earth's inner and outer core density. John Vale, a professor of Earth Science at the University of Southern California, told Live Science, "The new study helps discern the difference in composition between the metal in the solid inner and liquid outer core as well as estimates direction and speed of the wobble of the inner core." The research team did not consider atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrological influences that might have influenced the deviation in polar motion besides the inner core wobble. However, it's a crucial discovery as it could help researchers in the future comprehend the dynamics between Earth's inner core and natural events that impact humanity, like earthquakes. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists might finally know why Earth's inner core wobbles every 8.5 years

China has recently introduced its groundbreaking ocean-drilling vessel, the Mengxiang, designed to embark on a&nbsp;mission of penetrating the Earth's crust.

If successful, this&nbsp;would be&nbsp;humanity's first&nbsp;exploration into the upper mantle of the planet.

Crafted by the China Geological Survey in collaboration with over 150 research institutes and companies, the Mengxiang is a colossal ship with a cargo capacity of 33,000 tonnes.

Spanning 179 metres in length and 32.8 metres&nbsp;in width, the vessel can traverse 15,000 nautical miles and operate for 120 days per port call, according to the South China Morning Post.

Its robust stability and structure makes it resilient against the fiercest tropical cyclones, while its drilling capabilities allow it to reach an impressive depth of 11,000 metres below the ocean's surface.

Traditionally, human activities and scientific exploration have been confined to the Earth's crust, which has an average thickness of 15,000 metres.&nbsp;Beneath the crust lies the mantle, a pivotal layer connecting the surface to the core.

The Mengxiang aims to breach the Mohorovicic discontinuity, or Moho, located about 7,000 metres&nbsp;beneath the ocean floor, opening the door to previously unexplored scientific territories.

Also watch this report

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinese-ocean-drilling-ship-ready-to-drill-through-earths-mantle-674561/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Historical attempts&nbsp;</h2>

Despite attempts since the 1960s by American scientists to breach the Moho and reach the mantle, the goal has remained elusive.

However, advancements in deep ocean drilling technology have provided valuable insights into the Earth's structure.

Rock samples from ultra-deep boreholes have unveiled crucial information about plate tectonics, oceanic crust evolution, ancient ocean climates, and seabed resources.

Speculations about life existing within the mantle abound, fueled by discoveries of organisms capable of withstanding extreme conditions. The mantle's composition, particularly peridotite, could produce energy for life forms.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-inner-core-might-have-stopped-and-changed-direction-check-what-happens-now-555556">Also read |&nbsp;Earth's inner core might have stopped and changed direction: Check out what happens now!</a>

However, skepticism exists, even as some scientists point to the presence of dormant microbes with slow metabolism in seabed rocks.

The recent trials of the Mengxiang primarily focused on testing its propulsion system, powered by a 30-megawatt station. Challenges, however, persist in reaching the targeted 11,000 metres&nbsp;beneath the water's surface, including high temperatures and pressures. Advanced drilling techniques, high-quality drill bits, and circulation systems are deemed necessary, requiring substantial time, money, and facing potential failure risks.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

China has recently introduced its groundbreaking ocean-drilling vessel, the Mengxiang, designed to embark on a mission of penetrating the Earth's crust. If successful, this would be humanity's first exploration into the upper mantle of the planet.

China has recently introduced its groundbreaking ocean-drilling vessel, the Mengxiang, designed to embark on a mission of penetrating the Earth's crust. If successful, this would be humanity's first exploration into the upper mantle of the planet. Crafted by the China Geological Survey in collaboration with over 150 research institutes and companies, the Mengxiang is a colossal ship with a cargo capacity of 33,000 tonnes. Spanning 179 metres in length and 32.8 metres in width, the vessel can traverse 15,000 nautical miles and operate for 120 days per port call, according to the South China Morning Post. Its robust stability and structure makes it resilient against the fiercest tropical cyclones, while its drilling capabilities allow it to reach an impressive depth of 11,000 metres below the ocean's surface. Traditionally, human activities and scientific exploration have been confined to the Earth's crust, which has an average thickness of 15,000 metres. Beneath the crust lies the mantle, a pivotal layer connecting the surface to the core. The Mengxiang aims to breach the Mohorovicic discontinuity, or Moho, located about 7,000 metres beneath the ocean floor, opening the door to previously unexplored scientific territories. Also watch this report Historical attempts Despite attempts since the 1960s by American scientists to breach the Moho and reach the mantle, the goal has remained elusive. However, advancements in deep ocean drilling technology have provided valuable insights into the Earth's structure. Rock samples from ultra-deep boreholes have unveiled crucial information about plate tectonics, oceanic crust evolution, ancient ocean climates, and seabed resources. Speculations about life existing within the mantle abound, fueled by discoveries of organisms capable of withstanding extreme conditions. The mantle's composition, particularly peridotite, could produce energy for life forms. Also read | Earth's inner core might have stopped and changed direction: Check out what happens now! However, skepticism exists, even as some scientists point to the presence of dormant microbes with slow metabolism in seabed rocks. The recent trials of the Mengxiang primarily focused on testing its propulsion system, powered by a 30-megawatt station. Challenges, however, persist in reaching the targeted 11,000 metres beneath the water's surface, including high temperatures and pressures. Advanced drilling techniques, high-quality drill bits, and circulation systems are deemed necessary, requiring substantial time, money, and facing potential failure risks. (With inputs from agencies)

China's ocean-drilling ship Mengxiang sets sail to reach earth's mantle

China has unveiled its first ocean drilling vessel, the Mengxiang, which is designed to carry out an unprecedented mission: drilling through the Earth's crust.

Chinese Ocean drilling ship ready to drill through Earth's mantle

Mountains with peaks&nbsp;three to four times higher than Mount Everest have been discovered deep inside the Earth, scientists said.

Using seismology centres in Antarctica, experts found these astonishingly huge “mountains” in the boundary between the core and mantle, around 1,800 miles deep (around 2,900 kilometres).

Dubbed ultra-low velocity zones (ULVZ), these gargantuan underground mountain ranges had managed to escape the scientists’ gaze all these years until earthquakes and atomic explosions generated enough seismic data to be spotted by them, reported BBC.

To make sense of how big these mountains are, Mount Everest is around 5.5 miles high (8.8 kilometres) from the surface, while the underground mountains are said to be over 24 miles (38 kilometres) in height.

“Analysing 1000’s of seismic recordings from Antarctica, our high-definition imaging method found thin anomalous zones of material at the CMB [core-mantle boundary] everywhere we probed,” Arizona State University geophysicist Edward Garnero said in a statement.

“The material’s thickness varies from a few kilometres to 10’s of kilometres. This suggests we are seeing mountains on the core, in some places up to 5 times taller than Mt. Everest.”

<h2>How did these mountains form?</h2>

One possible explanation given by the scientists is that these ancient formations were created when oceanic crusts were forced into Earth’s interior.

They argue that it might have begun with tectonic plates slipping down into the Earth's mantle&nbsp;and sinking to the core-mantle boundary.

These then slowly spread out to form an assortment of structures, leaving a trail of both mountains and blobs. This would mean both are made from ancient oceanic crust: a combination of basalt rock and sediments from the ocean floor, albeit transformed by intense heat and pressure.

<h2>What does the discovery entail?</h2>

The study seeks to argue that these underground peaks may play a critical role in how heat escapes the Earth’s core.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/long-covid-patients-have-lower-quality-of-life-than-those-with-cancer-parkinsons-disease-study-602160">Long Covid patients have lower quality of life than those with cancer, Parkinson’s disease: Study</a>

The core is responsible for generating Earth’s magnetic field and some of the material from it can even be ejected up to the Earth’s surface during volcanic eruptions.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/origins-of-masturbation-traced-back-to-40-million-years-found-primarily-in-male-primates-601728">Origins of masturbation traced back to 40 million years, found primarily in male primates</a>

“Seismic investigations, such as ours, provide the highest resolution imaging of the interior structure of our planet, and we are finding that this structure is vastly more complicated than once thought,” study co-author and University of Alabama geoscientist Samantha Hansen&nbsp;said in a statement.

“Our research provides important connections between shallow and deep Earth structure and the overall processes driving our planet.”

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Mountains with peaks three to four times higher than Mount Everest have been discovered deep inside the Earth, scientists said. Using seismology centres in Antarctica, experts found these astonishingly huge “mountains” in the boundary between the core and mantle, around 1,800 miles deep (around 2,900 kilometres).

Mountains with peaks three to four times higher than Mount Everest have been discovered deep inside the Earth, scientists said. Using seismology centres in Antarctica, experts found these astonishingly huge “mountains” in the boundary between the core and mantle, around 1,800 miles deep (around 2,900 kilometres). Dubbed ultra-low velocity zones (ULVZ), these gargantuan underground mountain ranges had managed to escape the scientists’ gaze all these years until earthquakes and atomic explosions generated enough seismic data to be spotted by them, reported BBC. To make sense of how big these mountains are, Mount Everest is around 5.5 miles high (8.8 kilometres) from the surface, while the underground mountains are said to be over 24 miles (38 kilometres) in height. “Analysing 1000’s of seismic recordings from Antarctica, our high-definition imaging method found thin anomalous zones of material at the CMB [core-mantle boundary] everywhere we probed,” Arizona State University geophysicist Edward Garnero said in a statement. “The material’s thickness varies from a few kilometres to 10’s of kilometres. This suggests we are seeing mountains on the core, in some places up to 5 times taller than Mt. Everest.” How did these mountains form? One possible explanation given by the scientists is that these ancient formations were created when oceanic crusts were forced into Earth’s interior. They argue that it might have begun with tectonic plates slipping down into the Earth's mantle and sinking to the core-mantle boundary. These then slowly spread out to form an assortment of structures, leaving a trail of both mountains and blobs. This would mean both are made from ancient oceanic crust: a combination of basalt rock and sediments from the ocean floor, albeit transformed by intense heat and pressure. What does the discovery entail? The study seeks to argue that these underground peaks may play a critical role in how heat escapes the Earth’s core. Also read | Long Covid patients have lower quality of life than those with cancer, Parkinson’s disease: Study The core is responsible for generating Earth’s magnetic field and some of the material from it can even be ejected up to the Earth’s surface during volcanic eruptions. Also read | Origins of masturbation traced back to 40 million years, found primarily in male primates “Seismic investigations, such as ours, provide the highest resolution imaging of the interior structure of our planet, and we are finding that this structure is vastly more complicated than once thought,” study co-author and University of Alabama geoscientist Samantha Hansen said in a statement. “Our research provides important connections between shallow and deep Earth structure and the overall processes driving our planet.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mountains 3 to 4 times larger than Everest found near Earth’s core

It is often a crazy fact to wrap one's head around that we live on a planet with a solid upper layer, beneath which is a molten-liquid core, reaching thousands of degrees in temperature.

It is often a crazy fact to wrap one's head around that we live on a planet with a solid upper layer, beneath which is a molten-liquid core, reaching thousands of degrees in temperature. However, what lies at the very centre of Earth's solid, metallic core is a mystery that has puzzled scientists over the years. According to new research published in the journal Nature Communications on Tuesday, it has been posited that our planet has a distinct ball of iron within its metallic core. The study states that the newly-detected centre is a 644-kilometre-wide ball of metal with the composition of iron-nickel alloy. The fact that this ball had not been detected previously could be attributed to the simple fact that its outer layer is also composed of a similar iron-nickel alloy with trace amounts of other elements. WATCH | Most of the Earth's water is underground? × With the Earth's core impossibly hot, it is difficult to reach anywhere near it. Thus, scientists use seismology to gauge what lies in the innards of our home planet. After any earthquake seismic waves travel across the Earth, changing their path and orientation when passing through different materials. This allows the geophysicists to decipher what lies at Earth's rather mysterious core. The scientists involved in the study used a similar process to ascertain their findings. “In this study, for the first time, we report observations of seismic waves originating from powerful earthquakes traveling back and forth from one side of the globe to the other up to five times like a ricochet,” said Dr Thanh-Son Phạm, one of the coauthors of the study. “Additionally, the transition from the innermost (solid) ball to the outer shell of the inner core (also solid shell) seems rather gradational than sharp, That is why we cannot observe it via direct reflections of seismic waves from it.” Read more: Earth's inner core might have stopped and changed direction: Check out what happens now! The discovery of an inner layer is expected to widen the horizon of scientists and their understanding of Earth's magnetic field and how it has evolved over centuries and will continue to do so in the coming future. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

What lies at the centre of Earth's core? Scientists answer THIS age-old question

Earth's inner core&nbsp;has always had a pace of its own. Surprisingly, scientists have known about the unusual behaviour since the mid-1990s. However, a recent study revealed that Earth's inner core has stopped spinning and might change its original direction of motion. A study published in Nature Geoscience stated that the internal core rotation of our planet recently paused after geoscientists analysed the motion pattern. In 2009, the movement stopped suddenly and started moving in the opposite direction. Earth's inner core moves in relative motion with the speed of Earth like a swing, and one cycle of the swing is about seven decades, geoscientists told AFP. Previously, it switched paths in the early 1970s. According to the prediction by researchers from China's Peking University, the successive motion would be in the 2040s.&nbsp;

Our planet earth consists of three layers, crust, core and mantle. The Earth's core again divides into two, the inner and outer. Let's look deeper into the Earth's inner core to understand what's happening.

<h2>What is Earth's inner core?</h2>

In 1936, scientists discovered it while analysing the waves that travel through the planet during an earthquake. About 7,000 kilometres wide, it is made up of a shell of liquid iron wrapping a solid centre of the iron.&nbsp;

A study in 1996 revealed that the travelling speed of seismic waves through the Earth's inner core demonstrated a periodic variation over the last three decades. The rotation rate grew faster by 1 degree per year than the mantle and crust.&nbsp;

<h2>What will happen due to directional change in Earth's inner core?</h2>

According to the researchers, the core's rotation directly connects to a day's length, Earth's rotation, and Earth's mantle and crust. They have also cited evidence of gravitational coupling that led to dynamic interactions between all three layers of Earth. However, no evidence shows that the directional change in Earth's inner core has affected the routine lives of people.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-wait-what--sea-spiders-can-regrow-not-just-limbs-but-these-amputated-body-parts-too-555434">Wait, what? Sea spiders can regrow not just limbs, but these amputated body parts too</a>

Earth's inner core has always had a pace of its own. Surprisingly, scientists have known about the unusual behaviour since the mid-1990s. However, a recent study revealed that Earth's inner core has stopped spinning and might change its original direction of motion.

Earth's inner core has always had a pace of its own. Surprisingly, scientists have known about the unusual behaviour since the mid-1990s. However, a recent study revealed that Earth's inner core has stopped spinning and might change its original direction of motion. A study published in Nature Geoscience stated that the internal core rotation of our planet recently paused after geoscientists analysed the motion pattern. In 2009, the movement stopped suddenly and started moving in the opposite direction. Earth's inner core moves in relative motion with the speed of Earth like a swing, and one cycle of the swing is about seven decades, geoscientists told AFP. Previously, it switched paths in the early 1970s. According to the prediction by researchers from China's Peking University, the successive motion would be in the 2040s. Our planet earth consists of three layers, crust, core and mantle. The Earth's core again divides into two, the inner and outer. Let's look deeper into the Earth's inner core to understand what's happening. What is Earth's inner core? In 1936, scientists discovered it while analysing the waves that travel through the planet during an earthquake. About 7,000 kilometres wide, it is made up of a shell of liquid iron wrapping a solid centre of the iron. A study in 1996 revealed that the travelling speed of seismic waves through the Earth's inner core demonstrated a periodic variation over the last three decades. The rotation rate grew faster by 1 degree per year than the mantle and crust. What will happen due to directional change in Earth's inner core? According to the researchers, the core's rotation directly connects to a day's length, Earth's rotation, and Earth's mantle and crust. They have also cited evidence of gravitational coupling that led to dynamic interactions between all three layers of Earth. However, no evidence shows that the directional change in Earth's inner core has affected the routine lives of people. ALSO READ | Wait, what? Sea spiders can regrow not just limbs, but these amputated body parts too

Earth's inner core might have stopped and changed direction: Check out what happens now!

Researchers have discovered a hidden passageway beneath central Panama through which wind from the Earth's ''mantle'' is actively “blowing.”&nbsp;

Scientists believe that the secret passage beneath Panama holds the clue behind the reason that rocks from Earth's mantle are found over 1,609 kilometers from where they originated.&nbsp;

Located approximately 100 km below the surface of the Earth, the opening may allow a flow of mantle materials to travel all the way from beneath the Galápagos Islands.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/researchers-identify-unique-storm-called-atmospheric-lake-439979" hreflang="en">Researchers identify unique storm called 'atmospheric lake'</a>

The findings have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

Scientists believe the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates collided around 15 million years ago, causing volcanic activity that eventually formed a thin strip of land linking the Americas and separating the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

The forging of the Americas resulted in a mass migration of animals, while the separation of the two oceans transformed the world’s climate and prompted the development of new species.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-new-muscle-layer-in-human-jaw-that-helps-it-in-stabilisation-439376" hreflang="en">Scientists discover new muscle layer in human jaw that helps it in stabilisation</a>

According to David Bekaert, a postdoctoral scholar in marine chemistry and geochemistry at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, the Cocos tectonic plate is diving down and pushing oceanic crust under the continental crust of North America.

"Different sources of geological material typically have different compositions, so we can track the contribution from different regions of the mantle," Bekaert said.

The subduction of the Cocos plate under North America has the capacity to cause large earthquakes, including the 2017 Chiapas quake, a magnitude-8.1 that killed dozens.

"We found that in particular places of Central America, namely western Panama and behind the volcanic arc in Costa Rica, we have some exotic signatures [of geochemistry] that really resemble what you have in the Galápagos Islands," Bekaert said.&nbsp;

"Just beneath Panama, there is a hole, a window through the slab, that allows for the influx of this mantle component," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Researchers have discovered a hidden passageway beneath central Panama through which wind from the Earth's ''mantle'' is actively “blowing.” Scientists believe that the secret passage beneath Panama holds the clue behind the reason that rocks from Earth's mantle are found over 1,609 kilometers from where they originated.

Researchers have discovered a hidden passageway beneath central Panama through which wind from the Earth's ''mantle'' is actively “blowing.” Scientists believe that the secret passage beneath Panama holds the clue behind the reason that rocks from Earth's mantle are found over 1,609 kilometers from where they originated. Located approximately 100 km below the surface of the Earth, the opening may allow a flow of mantle materials to travel all the way from beneath the Galápagos Islands. Also read | Researchers identify unique storm called 'atmospheric lake' The findings have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). Scientists believe the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates collided around 15 million years ago, causing volcanic activity that eventually formed a thin strip of land linking the Americas and separating the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The forging of the Americas resulted in a mass migration of animals, while the separation of the two oceans transformed the world’s climate and prompted the development of new species. Also read | Scientists discover new muscle layer in human jaw that helps it in stabilisation According to David Bekaert, a postdoctoral scholar in marine chemistry and geochemistry at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, the Cocos tectonic plate is diving down and pushing oceanic crust under the continental crust of North America. "Different sources of geological material typically have different compositions, so we can track the contribution from different regions of the mantle," Bekaert said. The subduction of the Cocos plate under North America has the capacity to cause large earthquakes, including the 2017 Chiapas quake, a magnitude-8.1 that killed dozens. "We found that in particular places of Central America, namely western Panama and behind the volcanic arc in Costa Rica, we have some exotic signatures [of geochemistry] that really resemble what you have in the Galápagos Islands," Bekaert said. "Just beneath Panama, there is a hole, a window through the slab, that allows for the influx of this mantle component," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists discover hidden passageway beneath Panama through which wind from Earth's middle layer blows

mantle

Mantle, News on Mantle, stories on Mantle, articles on Mantle, Mantle stories at Wion, Mantle news, Mantle latest news